Latest news with #LocalGovernmentandHeritage
RTÉ News
10 hours ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Govt bid to reform rent cap will put tenants at risk
Eoin Ó Broin, Dublin Mid-West TD and Sinn Féin's spokesman on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, discusses the changes to Rent Pressure Zones that will go to cabinet tomorrow (Tuesday).
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Irish Independent
New chapter at one of Cork's landmark visitor attractions following completion of expansive conservation works
Fota House & Gardens one of Ireland's most treasured historic estates now offers an even more memorable visitor experience for the summer and autumn seasons. A major programme of conservation and restoration has just been completed, to the value of €2.2m funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage over a four year period. The works included structural roof repairs, revitalisation of the house's Regency interiors, and the conservation of the McCarthy 19th-century landscape art collection. This marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing enhancement of the estate as a landmark visitor attraction in East Cork. The property's extensive gardens are now also in bloom and they have a newly enhanced historic house tour. Fota House & Gardens also has a busy programme of events planned for the months ahead which include art exhibitions, courses, and outdoor movie screenings. Set within a 200-year-old estate, Fota House continues to reveal its fascinating stories under the stewardship of the Irish Heritage Trust, an independent non-profit organisation which acquired the property in 2007. Visitors are invited to explore the splendidly conserved 19th-century mansion, the finest example of Regency architecture in Ireland, complete with vibrant working gardens and a renowned arboretum, alongside an exciting calendar of seasonal events. Guided tours bring the house's layered history to life, exploring the legacy of the Smith-Barry family who lived at Fota for over 175 years and the many staff who worked on the estate over generations. Visitors journey through more than seventy rooms, from grand neoclassical reception halls to nurseries, kitchens, and below-stairs quarters that offer a rare insight into domestic life of the time. Bryan Murphy, Irish Heritage Trust General Manager at Fota House & Gardens said: 'In recent years, we've completed major conservation works—from restoring the main roof and Regency interiors to conserving the McCarthy 19th-century landscape art collection. These projects protect Fota's rich heritage while enhancing the visitor experience.' Beyond the house itself, visitors can relax with a coffee or lunch in 'The Food Club' café or browse the beautiful gift shop featuring works by local artists and craftspeople. The surrounding gardens and nationally important arboretum provide the perfect backdrop to enjoy the changing seasons, with rare botanical species and historic gardening practices nurtured through the Irish Heritage Trust's thriving volunteering programme. The restored Victorian Working Garden and glasshouses, once in decline, now flourish once again. Fota House also holds Museum Accreditation by the Heritage Council's Museum Standards Programme for Ireland, recognising the exceptional collection care delivered by the Irish Heritage Trust. From drawing rooms to servant corridors, every corner tells a story—including the celebrated landscape art collection by Ashford, Fisher and Roberts displayed in its original 19th-century setting. Guided tours last approximately one hour and run daily at 12pm and 2pm from mid-March to the end of September, with an additional 3:30pm tour in July and August. While pre-booking is not always essential, visitors are encouraged to book in advance to secure preferred times. For more information on visiting hours, visit
Dublin Live
3 days ago
- Politics
- Dublin Live
Local Democracy Taskforce established aimed at giving councillors more power
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Ministers have confirmed the establishment of the Local Democracy Taskforce to reform and strengthen local government. The taskforce's work will be organised into four key pillars: Structure, Finance, Functions and Governance/ Accountability. It is expected to give more decision-making powers to councillors amongst other reforms. The taskforce will focus on: The possibility of devolving more decision-making powers to Councillors; How to strengthen the framework and powers of Municipal Districts and Area Committees; Consider granting councillors greater input and control over the development and implementation of the local authority budget and mechanisms to enhance fiscal autonomy. It will also examine: The rebalancing of power between elected councillors and the executive, to ensure that elected officials have a right to be consulted on a greater range of decisions; Mechanisms to increase the accountability of the Chief Executive and Directors of Services to councillors for executive decisions, and; The proportion of local authority members to population and examine how to deliver greater diversity of representation. The taskforce, confirmed by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne and Minister of State with responsibility for planning local government John Cummins TD, will be chaired by Jim Breslin, former Secretary General of the Departments of Children, Health and Further and Higher Education. Deputy Browne said: "The work of the Taskforce will pave the way for the next generation of local government reform. Local government plays an important role in our democracy and in the delivery of essential services in Ireland. Local authorities provide over 1,100 services and are the linchpin for the lives of many in our community at local level. "Now more than ever, we recognise the importance of continually striving to enhance our democracy at local level, ensuring that the very best people enter local government and have the powers and capacity to work on behalf of the people who have elected them." It will have strong input from the Local Government sector and will be comprised of Local Authority elected member representative bodies, Local Authority executive representatives, the National Oversight and Audit Commission, the Local Government Management Agency, the Local Government Audit Service, the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage, as well as a number of independent experts. The first meeting will be held later this month. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
Agriland
4 days ago
- Politics
- Agriland
State criticised for purchasing land for rewilding amid housing crisis
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has been slammed for purchasing land for rewilding during the housing crisis. The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers' Association (INHFA) has called into question what it said is the 'expressed policy of government ministers and our Taoiseach [Micheál Martin] to use state money in the purchasing of lands to increase the size and number of national parks'. Vincent Roddy, the association's president, said: 'It is absolutely mind-boggling that we have people inside the Department of Housing actively looking to purchase farmland for rewilding while over 15,000 people remain homeless, including 4,600 children. 'With numbers such as this you would expect the government and this department to focus on acquiring land to build houses or maybe developing existing state land for housing,' Roddy added. He went on to outline what he said was the impact of those land purchases for farmers and their communities. 'We are now seeing the state actively compete against farmers in the purchasing of land, which is having a detrimental effect on access to land, especially for young farmers, while also undermining economic activity in these communities,' Roddy said. The INHFA president also claimed that this policy is 'at variance' with the Irish constitution, which Roddy said 'outlines the need to retain as many families as is economically practicable on the land'. The wording of the constitution in this regard is: 'The State shall, in particular, direct its policy towards securing that there may be established on the land in economic security as many families as in the circumstances shall be practicable.' Roddy called for 'an immediate reassessment' of the current policy, amid 'growing concerns around food security and ongoing rural decline'. 'Through active engagement with farmers we can deliver much better outcomes in terms of economic and environmental sustainability while ensuring there is more funding available to address the housing crisis,' he said.
Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Not a single site in Cork has been made available in the three years of the Ready to Build scheme
Under the terms of the scheme, local authorities are to make serviced sites in towns and villages available to individuals to build their principal private residence on. The intention of the scheme is that local authorities would develop existing sites in their control or purchase them, add services and then sell them at a discount on the market value to potential house builders. The level of discount depends on the servicing cost incurred by the local authority and goes up to a maximum of €30,000. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage then recoups the local authority for the money spent providing servicing on the sites. First-time buyers are prioritized under the scheme, followed by those with particular needs or people who want to move to live in a town or village. However, at a recent meeting of the Southern Division of Cork County Council, the Council's Housing Directorate, responding to a question by East Cork Councillor Eamonn Horgan (Social Democrats), said that no sites have been made available under the scheme in County Cork to date. In response, Councillor Horgan has branded the scheme a failure in the county. "It's a disappointing response — three years into the scheme and zero sites offered. It has clearly failed to date. I was hopeful and optimistic when this scheme was announced and now it's frustration and annoyance," he told the Irish Independent. "It's the human cost that's being overlooked in all these failed schemes proposed by the government. Homelessness. Mental health issues. Families having children later in life due to the uncertainty and cost of housing. Society is being upended. We need to get serious. We need to start thinking outside the box from a council level and national level in how we are going to get these schemes moving. We need to build more houses — before we lose yet another generation to delay and dysfunction," Councillor Horgan added. Cork County Council told the Irish Independent that a small number of sites are being considered for the scheme in North Cork, but they can't be sold at present due to servicing issues. The Council said it is seeking to acquire land for all of its housing programmes, including the Ready to Build Scheme.
